Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd) OFR, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to immortalising the legacy and sacrifices of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG). This was contained in a statement signed by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Defence.
The Minister gave the assurance when he received a delegation of ECOMOG Veterans, led by Major General Ohifeme Ejimai (Rtd), at the Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Abuja. The delegation paid a courtesy visit to brief the Minister on the group’s activities and ongoing initiatives.
General Musa acknowledged the significant human and financial resources Nigeria deployed under ECOMOG, emphasising that personnel who paid the supreme price particularly during peacekeeping missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone will never be forgotten. He assured the delegation that ongoing efforts to document remaining records, casualties, and historical assets would be thoroughly completed to ensure proper preservation for posterity.
Earlier on his remarks, Major General Ejimai (Rtd) provided an update on the status of surviving Nigerian ECOMOG veterans, noting their readiness to continue contributing to national development and security. He urged the Ministry to address documentation gaps and consider establishing a dedicated remembrance day to honour the hundreds of Nigerian troops who lost their lives to secure peace and stability in West Africa.
The Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) was a formal regional peacekeeping and peace enforcement force created by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 1990.
Driven significantly by Nigerian leadership and troops, ECOMOG played a decisive role in restoring constitutional order, protecting civilian populations, and stabilizing West Africa during complex regional crises.
END
